v/8 in model A

oldforder

oldforder

Senior Member
I am looking to buy a model A... Found a 29 coupe that has a 60 hp v/8 in it. At this point have only seen pictures, but from the pic's it was really done nicely. Is there any chance in the world that it is factory???? Or did somebody just do a really nice conversion years ago? If it is an old conversion, how much does that affect the value of the car. You see lots of A's converted to hot rods, but this looks all stock except for the engine. Seems like it would be great conversation starter.
 
This is a conversion as there was only a 4 cylinder available for the Model a Ford 1928 to 1931. Ford came out with the small V8-60HP in 1937.
 
That is what I thought, but wanted to check with people who know more about it than I do. Although, I was sure the v/8 came out in 32. Wrong again??
 
I would rather have the 4 cylinder, it is a more powerful engine than the little V8 60. Having said that the V8 60 does look nice in the model A frame. It's kind of a novelty thing.
 
oldforder said:
That is what I thought, but wanted to check with people who know more about it than I do. Although, I was sure the v/8 came out in 32. Wrong again??
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Correct. In 1932 the model 18 had the first flathead V8. The Model B in 1932 had the four cylinder engine.
 
oldforder said:
That is what I thought, but wanted to check with people who know more about it than I do. Although, I was sure the v/8 came out in 32. Wrong again??
Click to expand...

The V8 did come out in 32 but not the 60. The 60 is not going to give you much power unless it has been hopped up. They do not have as much torque as a stock A engine.
 
After reading the old thread, I think maybe I will shy away from the 60hp. Course I haven't driven it yet, so probably should give it a chance.
 
A friend put a V8-60 in his 1931 Model A coupe. It did not have enough power to keep up with the stock Model A's on club tours here in the mountains. He took the V8 out and put the 4 cylinder back in the coupe after just two weeks.

On the positive side....when he did get the 60 "wound up" it would really go on a flat road but was useless on a hill. The little V8 really fit nice in the Model A engine compartment and looked like it might have been a factory installation to the unknowing.
 
Your right Carl, this is a late 40's or early 50's French Ford
Vedette I'm putting in a 2N Ford tractor.

Bob
 

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George Miller said:
The V8 did come out in 32 but not the 60. The 60 is not going to give you much power unless it has been hopped up. They do not have as much torque as a stock A engine.
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George, this statement confuses me.

Power is power and 60HP is more than 40HP. Torque is only half of the equation and is useless without RPM.
 
MrTube said:
George, this statement confuses me.

Power is power and 60HP is more than 40HP. Torque is only half of the equation and is useless without RPM.
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Sorry I did not make the rules. Torque is what you need when climbing a hill or starting out with the engine at low rpms. You would not have 60 hp at say 1000 rpms like when you start out from a stop sign.The Model A probably has more hp at a 1000 rpms, can not say for sure because I never checked one at that speed. Now when you are going down the road at 50 the 60 would have the A beat. Clear as mud right. As a rule long stroke engines have more torque like a big truck engine. Short stroke would have good hp but less torque. Of course there is a lot more to hp and torque than just stroke.
 
A V8-60 would be fine in an early English Anglia or Prefect,but I think they would be rather useless in a heavier model A.The 37-40 60,s used a 4.44 axle ratio & would be screaming at 50 and even then had a hard time climbing hills.Other than the smoothness of 8 cyls,you will have more power with a stock A engine.My coupe with a B engine & 5.9 head will pull most any hill in the 2.94 OD ratio.
 
The V8 60 is 137 cubic inches. The Model"A" engine is 200 cubic inches. The Model"A" engine has a lot of torque. You might want to look at Van Pelt web site. They list the specifications for flatheads.
 
My '32 Austin Bantam dragster had a 4.44-1 rear end from a V-8 60. Power was a 1/4" X 5/16" 59AB flathead. Great FUN!! Bill W.
 

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